Latest News

Zvishavane gold dealers destroy Policemen’s cars

file pic.

ALLIEWAY NYONI

ZVISHAVANE – Two private cars belonging to Police officers based at Zvishavane Criminal Investigations Department (CID) were allegedly destroyed by more than ten suspected unlicensed gold dealers who they were pursuing after getting a tip off that the dealers had the precious metal in their car.The Police officers had used personal vehicles to pursue the alleged illegal dealers from Zvishavane towards Masvingo. The dealers however, turned into a dust road before stopping and allegedly used stones and logs to attack the cops and destroyed their cars.Mafias Takawira (33) and Albert Maketo (42) both of Madamombe village, Chivi appeared before Zvishavane Magistrate Shepherd Munjanja facing malicious damage to property charges. The two who were apprehended on the incident scene were in the company of other suspected gold dealers who are still at large as it is alleged that the vehicle they were using, a white Toyota Hiace (AEA 9431), had more than ten people aboard.The State represented by Monica Mungwena told the court that on February 3, at around 6pm a tip off was received at CID that a white Toyota Hiace (AEA 9431) was carrying gold and it was suspected that neither the owner nor any of his accomplices had a gold license.Detectives only identified in the State papers as Dorembwe, Maromo, Mukuze, Mudzvaro, Mucharamba, Musauki, Zhou and Chipanga teamed up to go and intercept the vehicle which was travelling towards Masvingo. The detectives used a Toyota Ipsum belonging to Mudzvara and a Toyota Hilux belonging to Maketo.The dealers did not stop when they were ordered to. There was a chase and the dealers later stopped and stoned the Police vehicles.The alleged gold was not recovered.The damage to the two cars was valued at $2 100.The accused were remanded in custody to March 27 for continuation of trial.crime news